新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
% l- v- B6 P7 d+ q348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
. f7 }! n& w0 E* `$ b        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
; A# b! h/ r% t; j, k) O        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
& o" N$ y; v7 n4 p0 K& x. c3 p351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
5 n( Z+ v0 o) A2 v3 d        不过，拳击是十分野蛮的，因为当时没有任何比赛规则，职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤，甚至丧命。
% _% v, w9 m2 L5 ?* @! _352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
        拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔.门多萨，他生于1764年。
) }8 W2 ?. @6 h( S+ t/ ]+ S/ `353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
$ G  M- u. ~7 |        1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则，拳击比赛这才用上了手套。
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
3 I* g2 ~( U1 |) M: A: ?        虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。
6 _- g: J& i& h! a! n# R, D* I* ]355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
+ w/ @1 W( G% t& ~        门多萨在的全盛时期深受大家欢迎，无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。
& O4 L0 O) T2 x( b% `' W! ?3 W356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
5 ~2 b: i: c  z( t        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
2 N) b  u6 U4 l5 ?2 w" ]358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
0 W/ {5 `. g( M% \, n6 V        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
# d& W; |& c3 m2 f; _        事实上，门多萨不久便名声大振，致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
" z3 s7 x; s$ S' r        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
% ~* m0 s- j5 J+ L361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
5 \* s9 V# l$ s8 r9 C& ]        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
. J, S; n9 B6 k3 L9 H0 o% _362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
) T1 [1 ]( v" p. d; l        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
$ O3 D& A6 ?, X( H5 K, N, M5 F363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
        后来，门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量，门多萨又输了一场。
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
        直到1790年他们第3次对垒，门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯，成了全英拳击冠军。
1 L2 u) h! ^9 K! y% H365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
$ r9 F" `8 n. t! a1 j        同时，他建立了一所拳击学校，办得很成功，连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
7 l4 C* N( @2 X: X6 E% O  S367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。